Fastener for boxes.



' N. O.KENNIKER.

FASTENER FOR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. I916.

..l,20,%80. r Patehted Jan. 7,1919.

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FASTENER F015, BUXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Application filed April 18, 1916. Gerial 110.91.880.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that l, NICHOLAS 0. KENM- KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lillinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Boxes, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general to class of boxes known as knock-down boxes,

in which the several parts may be disconnected from one another, stored and shipped, and may be again readily connected in proper relation for use. lit particularly belongs to that class of knock-down boxes, in which the end and side walls are provided with transverse cleats near the ends thereof.

It has for its object the construction of a strong and serviceable box of the character described which may be constructed at a minimum expense.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of connecting means of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the device properly positioned upon the approx imate cleats of the walls of the box, the

dotted lines showing the manner of connecting the parts;

Fi 3 is a similar view, showing the two proximate walls of the box bound together 4.0 in proper relation;

Fig. 4: is a slightly modified form;

Fig. 5 is a'perspective view of a box, illustrating the construction of a box with my improved devices;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the preferred form of connecting member;

Fig. 7 is a sectional end view taken from the left of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8 and 9. are detail views illustrating to the preferred manner of securing the devices at the final or fourth corner as the box is set up.

In the drawings, ll are the free legs of a connecting device constructed of rod or suitable wire, extending in the same general direction, connected together by the section 2, thus forming a loop. 3-3 are the extending legs or the cooperating part, in which the connecting section 4: is bent over to form a hook adapted to engage the section 2, and thus connect the two. In addition the free ends are bent at an angle, as at 5, and extended a distance substantially the thick ness of the cleat on the box members, and thence bent at another angle, as at 6, the free end extending backward as at 7, and adapted to be positioned in a suitable groove or aperture formed between the cleat and the body of the box, as shown in Fig. 2. in this figure, 8-8 are the approximate Walls of the box, notched together as at 9 to prevent endwise movement of one on the other. 10-10. are the transverse cleats on the walls of the box, which are firmly secured to the walls in any preferred manner, the grain. of the cleats usually crossing the grain of the material in the wall of the box. lhat portion of the device which extends across the top of the cleats, and which is marked 1 and 3, is embedded in the cleat by means of a suitable groove formed therein, \vhilethe free ends'l, as before stated, are bent back and seated in suitable snugly fitting grooves, as shown, formed in the cleat, thus firmly embedding the free ends in the cleat. i

Fig. 3 clearly shows the position of the parts where the corner is formed and bound by the wire connecting devices, as stated.

ltis obvious that in a box of the character described this method is suflicient for three corners of the box. The fourth corner, however, it willbe necessary to assemble somewhat differently, owing to the fact that with three corners thus locked together, the walls at the fourth corner cannot be made to take the position shown indicated in Fig. 2; consequently the free ends of either one or both of the connecting members, preferably one, may be passed through suitable apertures 11 in the wall, and be formed with a loop 12 on the end thereof. The pin 13, or equivalent part, extending through the loops inside the wall, serves to bind the part in position,

and to complete the locking of the several walls of the complete box together. While thus assembling the side walls of the box the bottom and top are properly positioned and secured in any preferred manner.

In securing the last mentioned device shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the box may be asscmbled except at that corner, and one member placed in position therein as shown at the bottom of Fig. 3. The other member may then be hooked into the hook formed by the first mentioned member, and the free end extending through the wall 8, as indicated in the Fig. 8, and the vertical pin 13, secures the whole strongly in position, completing the interlocking operation.

Supplemental binding means may be employed in a box of this character, if desired, thus, as shown in Fig. at, a single wire or rod 14, having its free ends 15 similarly bent, may have the ends properly inserted, similarly as the parts are shown in Fig. 2, and the corner is brought to a right angle position shown in Fig. 3, the supplemental binding wire 1% will be bent around the corner and strained into position. This straining action is possible with all of the devices, and is desirable in forming up the box, adding greatly to its rigidity and strength. various parts are particularly determined with this object in view.

Thus, in the preferred form shown in Fig. 2, the double locking device may be employed near the ends of the cleats, while the supplemental binding wire 14 may be employed midway between the two, or may be increased in number if preferred.

In Fig. 6 the free ends as shown, are also bent outward at an angle from the main body of the wire, the ends thus engaging with the cleat 10 at a greater distance from one another. Fig. 7 clearly shows this, 16 being the free ends of the engaging member bent at an angle as stated.

It will be seen from this description that the connecting means engaging with the cleat only, the latter shouldbefirmly secured to the side and end walls of the box. The connecting means are also preferably embedded in the cleats, as stated, and sized-to rigidly bind and maintain the corners of the box. The interlocking corners 9 prevent any endwise movement ofone wall upon the other. The sideand end walls of the box proper are not perforated for the reception of the locking members, and the cleats are firmly nailed to the walls with the nails clenched, thus giving great'strength and rigidity to the completed box.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifica- 'tions may be made in the same without-departing from the spirit of my invention;

The proportion and sizes of the hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, coustruction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses men tioned.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with knock-down box structures comprising side sections having transverse cleats at the adjoining ends thereof, of means for securing in angular relation the corner portions of adjoining sections, said means comprising two U-shaped wire coupling members, each member adapted to be secured at its inner end portions to one of the side sections of the box, and said members being formed at their outer ends with portions to interlock with each other, one of said Ushaped members having inter mediate parallel leg portions to lie flat against the outer face of the cleat of one of the box sections and having its free end portions bent back and thence forward to provide return bend portions to extend around one edge face of the cleat and be tween the inner face of the cleat and the adjoining outer face of the box section.

2. The combination with knock-down box structures, comprising side sections having transverse cleats at the adjoining ends thereof, of means for securing in angular relation the corner portions of adjoining sections, said means comprising two U-shaped wire coupling members, each member being adapted to be secured at its inner end portions to one of the side sections of the box, and said members being formed at their outer ends with portions to inter-lock with each other, one of said U-shaped members having intermediate pa *allel leg portions to lie flat against the outer face of the cleat of one of the box sections, and having its inner end portions bent back and then forward to provide return bend portions to extend around one edge face of the cleat and between the inner face of the cleatand the adjoining outer face of the box section, said outer end portion of the member being bent down to engage over the other end face of the cleat.

3. The combination with knock-down box structures comprising side sections having transverse cleats at the adjoining ends there of, of means for securing in angular relation the corner portions of adjoining sections, said means comprising two U-shaped wire coupling members, each member adapted to be secured at its inner ends to one of the side sections of the box and said members being formed at their outer ends with portions to inter-lock with each other, one of said U-shaped members having intermediate i parallel leg portions to lie fiat against the outer face of the cleat of one of the box sections, and having 1ts inner end portions bent back and downwardly at an angle to In, testimeny whereof, I have hereunto the plane of the parallel portions, and thence signed my name in the presence of two subforward to provide ofiset return bend. p01 scribing Witnesses.

tions to extend around one edge face of the NICHOLAS O. KENNIKER. 5 cleat and between the inner face of the cleat Witnesses: i

and the adjoining outer face of the box sec- ROY W. HILL,

tion. CHARLES I. COBB.

' Gopies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pateutsi,

Washington, D. G." 

